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Metalive

Posted 08 July 2005 - 05:34 PM

Metalive

Member

Member

225 posts

I just finished installing my system, after many problems with cables, and what not, and 1 new Ultra Xconnect PSU later (Which is amazing), I finnally connected everything and fed power to my beautiful system... Everything lit up, all the fans turned on, and I felt a sense of great achievement over overcoming the difficulties and building my first computer.

Now, As soon as I turned it on, I think it was the mobo, anyway it started beeping. Like once every three seconds, a long 2 second or so beep. Why is it doing this?

warriorscot

Posted 09 July 2005 - 09:04 AM

magusbuckley

Posted 09 July 2005 - 09:23 AM

magusbuckley

Member

Member

626 posts

Hello:

The beep you are hearing is indead coming from the Motherboard. When you turn on your computer system, it runs through a startup process known as the boot process. The boot process is actually a series of smaller tasks that your computer must perform before you, the operator, can take control of the Operating System. The first part of the boot process is known as POST (Power On Self Test). In this phase of the boot process, the Motherboard sends a signal out to the various hardware components within your system and checks for errors. If an error occurs, a series of beeps will sound. What kind of beep and how many of them you here is determined by the problem at hand.

Imagine this: Your computer, during the POST section of the boot process, determines there is a hardware problem inside your computer case. It sounds a beep to let you know about the problem. Now, what in the world does this beep mean? It simply means you have a problem inside the case. Oh no, where do you start looking to resolve this issue? Well, your guess would be as good as mine.

To combat this issue, Motherboard Manufacturers have, for as long as I can remember, given the Motherboards different beeps for different types of errors. A single beep, as you are receiving, usually means you are having trouble with your systems memory. If I were you, I would make sure your RAM modules are properly seated in their slots on the Motherboard. This, however, may not be the case. The beeps generated for errors vary from one Motherboar Manufaturer to another. Check the users manual for the Motherboard (probably under a "Help" section of some sort) to find a list of beeps your Motherboard can produce and what those beeps mean.

You shouldn't become discouraged about building a PC after a little mishap like this. You probably didn't ride your first bike without crashing, did ya? You have done very very well for yourself having come this far. I congratulate you on building your first computer system.

I hope I've helped you understand why and where these beeps are coming from.

Let us know what happens with your little project. If you need more help, well we're here for ya buddy....

Posted 09 July 2005 - 11:54 AM

Metalive

Posted 09 July 2005 - 12:37 PM

Metalive

Member

Topic Starter

Member

225 posts

I called Altex (An AWESOME place might I add) and their free tech support guy told me right off the bat that it was a memory, processor, or video card problem, we ran through and found out it was the way I installed the memory. I put the second stick right next to the first, which is wrong on this mobo. Reinstalled the RAM, boom, I'm in the BIOS!